Franschhoek’s floods are not only about an abnormal rainfall event, they are compound disasters
Daily Maverick | 02.06.2026 00:00
The recent flooding in Franschhoek has once again exposed the growing vulnerability of communities, farms and critical environmental infrastructure to extreme weather events. The intense rainfall was undoubtedly unusual for early winter, with 160mm reported in the valley from 10 to 12 May 2026. Most attention was focused on the flood damage to the formal town and the clearing operations that followed. Less attention was given to the flood damage along the Stiebeuel River, a relatively small stream during low flow, with its headwaters less than 3km from the town centre before discharging into the Franschhoek River. The river passes through a densely populated informal settlement with an estimated population of 12,000 – four times the size of the formal town of Franschhoek.
